German min says Nord Stream-2 not to eliminate Ukrainian transit

BERLIN, Jun 29 (PRIME) -- RussiaТs Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline is unable to and will not completely compensate natural gas transit to the E.U. through Ukraine, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said at a conference late on Thursday.

УThe project cannot completely replace the transit of gas through Ukraine and it should not do it, it help us to diversify energy supplies,Ф he said.

Ukraine has gas transportation infrastructure that needs upgrading. Altmaier also said he discussed the signing of a new transit deal by Moscow and Kiev after 2019 with Russia and Ukraine, and that the two countries are ready to consider it together with the European Commission. They will hold negotiations to reach an accord, he said.

The Nord Stream-2 project envisages construction of two lines of a natural gas pipeline with an annual capacity of up to 55 billion cubic meters, running from the Russian shore to Germany under the Baltic Sea. Gazprom plans to implement the project together with GermanyТs E.ON and BASF, Royal Dutch Shell, AustriaТs OMV, and FranceТs Engie.